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Get the Coumadin Cookbook!

Coumadin Book

This indispensable book includes:

• A primer on WHAT a Mediterranean-style diet is and WHY it's great for you
• 95+ delicious Coumadin safe recipes
• Information about managing your diet on Coumadin
• Ingredient and cooking tips throughout the book
• Complete Nutrition Facts, including Vitamin K content, for each recipe

Buy the paperback | Buy the eBook (PDF document)

Questions about ordering? Click here to read the FAQ.

How to order by mail: We are happy to accept personal checks drawn on a US bank for delivery within the United States only. Download the form to order by mail. We regret that we are unable to process orders by phone or ship printed books outside the United States.

Note: This is a revised and updated version of Dr. Harlan's The Dr. Gourmet Diet for Coumadin Users. These are the same recipes with updated Nutrition Information, with the addition of information on a Mediterranean-style diet.

How Much Vitamin K is in...?

Find out the exact amount of Vitamin K (in micrograms) of almost a thousand common foods! Listed both alphabetically and then in order of the amount of Vitamin K in the food, this list will help you know exactly how much Vitamin K you're eating. Just $4.95 for the eBook (PDF) or $12.95 for the paperback. Get your copy now!

Read More Ask Dr. Gourmet Questions

Will non-alcoholic beer affect your Coumadin dose?
Does grapefruit really interact with medications? (See also....)
Are almonds a good snack for those on Coumadin?
Is regular tea, iced or hot, contraindicated while taking Coumadin?
I can't have broccoli or cauliflower because of its high Vitamin K levels - why is it in your recipes?
Does salt increase INR levels?
If I'm on Coumadin, can I use Green Tea for weight loss?
Is Mona Vie (acai juice) safe with Coumadin?
Can those on Coumadin (warfarin) eat eggs or Eggbeaters?
Can I cook with parsley while on Coumadin?
Are peanuts affecting my Coumadin?
Should you avoid cranberry juice on Coumadin (warfarin)? Updated information!
Are there foods that interact with Coumadin even though they are low in Vitamin K?
Does freezing "kill" the Vitamin K in foods?
Can a person on Coumadin (warfarin) eat black eyed peas?
Can foods low in Vitamin K still affect my INR levels?

It's easy to get answers about health and nutrition! Just send your question by email to [email protected] and Dr. Harlan will respond to selected questions of general interest. Answers will be posted in the Ask Dr. Gourmet newsletter (sign up now!) and archived in the Ask Dr. Gourmet section of the website.

Please note that the Ask Dr. Gourmet feature is restricted to questions regarding food and nutrition. Due to the many questions we receive, not all questions may be answered. For more specific questions about your individual health, please contact your doctor. About Timothy S. Harlan, MD, FACP, CCMS | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy


 

Ask Dr. Gourmet

Will Honeybells (tangelos) interact with medications like grapefruit does?

My husband takes a very low dose of simvastatin for his cholesterol. I know that people on cholesterol meds should not drink grapefruit juice. Is it OK for him to eat Honeybells? They are tangelos, which is a hybrid between tangerines and pomelo or grapefruit.

Dr. Gourmet Says....

tangelos on a wooden table, with one cut in half

The research shows that oranges and citrus other than grapefruit are not an issue - it is a substance in the grapefruit itself, called furanocoumarins, that interacts with enzymes that are involved in metabolization of medications such as simvastatin (and many others).

Given that tangelos are a hybrid of grapefruit I would usually suggest to my patients that they avoid them, given the known issue with grapefruit. The good news, however, is that a study reported in the Journal of Food Science in 2005 and funded by the US Department of Agriculture (citation here) has shown that tangelos do not contain furanocoumarins and should be safe.

If you’re on any medications, you need to be sure to tell your doctor what other medications or supplements you’re using, as you can never be sure what might cause an interaction. The Center for Food-Drug Interaction Research and Education has a searchable database at http://www.druginteractioncenter.org that can help you discover any interactions with medications you are taking.

Thanks for writing,

Timothy S. Harlan, MD, FACP, CCMS
Dr. Gourmet

PS: Here's more information about grapefruit and medications.